Preliminary results of fair-weather atmospheric electric field in the proximity of Main Boundary Thrust,Northern Pakistan

The atmospheric electric Potential Gradient (PG) variation of fair-weather days at Muzaffarabad (MZF, Northern Pakistan) station is presented for the period of January 2015–October 2017. The present investigations focus on the diurnal variation of atmospheric PG on the seasonal and annual time scale. The fair-weather seasonal and annual average PG variation has revealed two peaks, i.e. a primary maximum peak and a secondary maximum peak. The average maximum PG value found is ～410?Vm^?1. The results are then compared with the well-known standard oceanic Carnegie curve. The diurnal curve of PG is found to deviate from the Carnegie curve. The seasonal PG variation at MZF shows lower values during the summer (monsoon) and autumn (post-monsoon) as compared to the winter and spring (pre-monsoon) which could be due to local aerosol concentration. Global comparison of PG (%) values of the annual mean at different longitude, with MZF observatory, shows local morning and evening peaks depicting local sunrise and sunset effects on the PG. The overall outcomes will certainly contribute to further investigate the Global Electric Circuit (GEC).